Cloud Storage
Can I delete Dropbox from my Mac?
Yes, you can delete Dropbox from your Mac, but what you lose depends on what you remove. The app itself, its preferences, sync state and logs can go; your synced files live in your account, and online-only files are not on the Mac at all. Your synced folder, however, is your own data and stays until you delete it separately.
See how much space Dropbox really takes before you decide
Dropbox data usually takes 500 MB – 10 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.
Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+
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Email me the link- Application
- Dropbox
- Typical data size
- 500 MB – 10 GB
- Category
- Cloud Storage
- File Location
~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox
What you lose and keep when deleting Dropbox
Specific to Dropbox
Removing the app takes away its settings, sync state, logs and the Finder integration and File Provider extension macOS manages, so syncing and online-only access stop on this Mac. Your files remain in your account in the cloud. The synced folder under ~/Library/CloudStorage holds your own data and is not removed with the app. Online-only files take no space and are not on the Mac. Deleting that folder without unlinking can remove files from the cloud, so treat it as your data, not app leftovers.
Where your Dropbox data lives
These folders hold your own Dropbox data. Deleting the app leaves them in place; removing them is what actually deletes it.
- Account and sync
- Files are stored in your Dropbox account; online-only files are not on the Mac at all.
- Your files
- The Dropbox folder, in ~/Library/CloudStorage on current macOS, holds your synced files.
What to check before deleting Dropbox
Confirm the last sync finished so recent edits are uploaded. Download files you need offline or copy them outside the synced folder first. Unlink this Mac in the app's settings, then quit the app before deleting it. If you rely on local projects kept only in that folder, or your account is not synced, deleting is a bad idea until those files are copied elsewhere. Expect its data to occupy 500 MB – 10 GB.
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How to delete Dropbox completely
Quit Dropbox, move it to the Trash, then remove what it left in ~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox. The full step-by-step guide:
Try it without risk
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